Anti-seismic and vibrational energy absorbing isolation device

ABSTRACT

An anti-seismic device comprising a base member comprising a socket on a top end, a top member comprising a ball that mates with the socket, a shock-absorbing, centering rod coupled to the ball and extending vertically upward through the top member and a plurality of shock absorbing devices located circumferentially around the top member.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This is a Continuation-In-Part of application Ser. No. 09/633,642, filed on Aug. 7, 2000, which claimed the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/157,633 filed on Oct. 5, 1999. The prior applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

[0003] Not Applicable.

[0004] This is a Continuation-In-Part of application Ser. No. 09/633,642, filed on Aug. 7, 2000, which claimed the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/157,633 filed on Oct. 5, 1999. The prior applications are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] 1. Field of the Invention

[0006] The present invention relates to an anti-seismic and vibrational energy absorbing device.”

[0007] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0008] The closest prior art of which the applicant is aware is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,126,136 to Yen and Lee, filed on Jul. 19, 1999, entitled “Passive Vibration Isolation System.”

[0009] The passive vibration isolation system developed and as shown in FIG. 1, Prior Art, comprises a positive and negative curve bearing 10 which includes a base member 12 fixedly mounted on a ground base 50, a sliding piece 16 having its lower portion mounted on the base member 12 and a first contact surface defined between the lower portion of the sliding piece 16 and the top portion of the base member 12, and a supporting member 14 fixedly mounted on the underside of a building 52 and supported on the upper portion of the sliding piece 16, and a second contact surface defined between the bottom portion of the supporting member 14 and the sliding piece 16. Each of the base member 12, the supporting member 14 and the sliding piece 16 is made of rigid metal. By such an arrangement, at least one of the first and second contact surfaces is a curved surface with a concave-convex arrangement.

[0010] In practice, the base member 12 includes a lug 120 protruding upward form the top portion thereof and defining a recess 121 therein. A bearing piece 122 is securely received in the recess 121 and has its top portion forming a first concave curved surface 123. A natural rubber 125 is snugly received in the recess 121 and supported on the bottom portion of the bearing piece 122. The supporting member 14 includes a lip 140 protruding downward from the bottom portion thereof and forming a second concave curved surface 141.

[0011] It is to be noted that the first concave curved surface 123 opens upward and has a positive curve, and the second concave surface 141 opens downward and has a negative curve such that the bearing 10 is called a positive and negative curve bearing.

[0012] The sliding piece 16 includes a first convex curved surface 163 formed on the lower portion thereof, and a second convex curved surface 162 formed on the upper portion thereof. A first wear-resistant resin layer 124 is coated on the first concave curved surface 123 and slidably abutting the first convex curved surface 163, and a second wear-resistant resin layer 142 is coated on the second concave curved surface 141, and slidably abutting the second convex curved surface 162.

[0013] In operation, a plurality of positive and negative curve bearings 10 are each mounted between the building 52 and the ground base 50. When the ground base 50 is displaced sideways due to an earthquake, the base member 12 together with the bearing piece 122 of each of the positive and negative curve bearings 10 is moved with the ground base 50 while the sliding piece 16 is slidably displaced between the bearing piece 122 and the supporting member 14 together with the building 52 is only slightly displaced, thereby decreasing a sliding deviation of the building 52 due to the sliding motion of the ground base 50, and thereby efficiently isolating the building 52 from a horizontal vibration (or shock) created by the earthquake. The first and second wear-resistant resin layers 124 and 142 are used to damp the sliding motion between the sliding piece 16, the supporting member 14 and the weight bearing piece 122.

[0014] When the earthquake stops, the building 52 together with the supporting member 14 is returned to its original position, as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 3 of the related art patent, due to the sliding engagement between the sliding piece 16, the supporting member 14, and the bearing piece 122. By such an arrangement, the building 52 relies on its weight to return to its original position without using an additional spring returning device or damping mechanism. In addition, the bearing piece 122 can sway on the natural rubber 125 due to the elastomeric feature of the natural rubber 125 such that building 52 can be rotated around a slight angle along a horizontal axis thereof, thereby absorbing a vertical vibration created by the earthquake.

[0015] The present invention has increased the isolation of the structure to a maximum and created a restraining the shifting as the structure vibrates and at the same time absorbs the shock and the vibratory wave as it travels upward by splitting the vibratory force and reducing it to minimum. The present invention has many safeguards that guarantee reliability, durability and stability. The design is simple and practical and differs much in the design and the functionality of the prior art cited here, as will be demonstrated in the detailed description of the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an anti-seismic and vibrational energy absorber isolation device called “The Emita” which comprises a base member including a socket on a top end, and a top member including a ball that mates with the socket of the top member, a shock-absorbing centering rod that couples to the ball and extends vertically upward through the top member, and a plurality of shock absorbing devices located circumferentially around the top member.

[0017] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description of the invention and referring to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 is a front view and dimensional view of an anti-seismic and vibrational energy absorbing isolation device, according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 2 is a front view of the first preferred embodiment in more detail and was done in WIREFRAME mode;

[0020]FIG. 3 This drawing shows the base part of the invention, which is the support part between the column and the bearing piece.

[0021]FIG. 4 This drawing shows the bearing piece of the invention and its outline.

[0022]FIG. 5 Shows the bearing piece in WIREFRAME mode.

[0023]FIG. 6 Shows the upper or closing part of the invention, which is the part that attaches itself to the structure and was made in the HIDE mode.

[0024]FIG. 7 Shows the outline of the upper or closing part.

[0025]FIG. 8 Shows the upper or closing part of the invention in WIREFRAME mode.

[0026]FIG. 9 Front view of the invention including the column attached to the base part And the ball part seating on this base part. To facilitate a better view, the column and the base part were not drawn completely in circumference; in practice, all parts including the column and base part are constructed in a full circle.

[0027]FIG. 10 A side view of the invention including the column attached to the base part and the ball part seating on the base part.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1-4 there is shown a first embodiment of an anti-seismic and vibrational energy absorbing device comprising a base member 18 including a socket 19 on a top end 20 of the base member 18, and a top member 21 comprising a ball 8 that mates with the socket 19, a shock-absorbing centering rod 11 that extends vertically upward through the top member 21, and a plurality of shock-absorbing devices 5 located circumferentially around the top member 21.

[0029] The base member 18 includes a horizontal bottom end 17, vertical sides 2, and a top end 20 including a socket 19.

[0030] The top member 21 includes a ball 8, a shock-absorbing centering rod 11 extending vertically upward through the top member 21, and a plurality of shock absorbing devices 5 enclosed in closing tubes 6 that are indented 7 so that they mate with receiving tubes 14 and do not twist or otherwise move circumferentially when a shock wave travels through the anti-seismic and vibrational energy absorbing device.

[0031] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3 it is seen that the indents 7 on the outside of the of the closing tubes 6 and receiving tubes 14 match so that both the closing tubes 6 and the receiving tubes 14 fit snugly with each other and compress without twisting or circumfrential movement when the top member 21 bears the weight of a building 23 or other structure.

[0032] Referring now to FIG. 3 there is also shown a center semi-spherical portion 22 for the ball 8 and a space 15 for receiving the cone 10.

[0033] Referring now to FIG. 4 there is shown another embodiment of the invention wherein the base member 18 is constructed such that the vertical sides 2 are of a length BC which is at least 12 inches, and the socket 19 comprises a sloping surface 9 slanting downward to a center semi-spherical portion 22 that accepts the ball 8. According to FIG. 3 the bottom end 17 is of a length BB which is the sum of the width BE of each of the sloping surfaces 9 and the length of the space EF.

[0034] Referring now to FIG. 5 there is shown the top member 21 with the cone 10 with a receiving slot 16 for the rod 11, and the shock absorbing devices 5 inside closing tubes 6 which fit inside receiving tubes 14.

[0035] Referring now to FIG. 6 there is shown the top member 21 and the base member 18 with the shock absorbing devices 5 inside the closing tubes 6, the receiving space 15 for the cone 10, the receiving slot 16 for the shock absorbing centering rod 11.

[0036] Referring now to FIG. 7 there is shown the detail of the top member including the shock absorbing devices 5, the cone 10, the receiving slot 16 for the shock absorbing centering rod 11.

[0037] Referring now to FIG. 8 there is shown the detail of the base member 18, the socket 19, the receiving semi-spherical portion 22 that accepts the ball 8.

[0038] Referring now to FIG. 9 there is shown a side and top view of another embodiment of the present invention with its top member 21 including closing tubes 6 with shock absorbing devices 5 inside, with the ball 8 resting in the socket 19 and the sloping surface slanting downward to a center semi-spherical portion 22 that accepts the ball 8 with the shock absorbing centering rod 11 extending vertically upward through the top member 21.

[0039] Referring now to FIG. 10 there are shown four views of the invention.

[0040] In practice, when an earthquake or other seismic event occurs, the weight of a building or other structure 23 attached to the top member 21 is borne by the top member which transfers the forces to the shock absorbing devices 5 which include but are not limited to springs. As the shock absorbing devices 5 absorb the force, the receiving tubes 14 mate with the closing tubes 6 and the indents 7 prevent twisting, sideways, or other circumferential movement of the building or other structure 23. The shock absorbing centering rod 11 coupled to ball 8 and extending vertically upward through top member 21 prevents shifting of the building because by being coupled to the ball 8, the ball 8 is limited in its movement in the socket, and as it too absorbs the force it minimizes or prevents damage to the structure 23.

[0041] When the earthquake or seismic event stops, the building or other structure 23 together with the top member 21 returns to it original position.

[0042] In another embodiment of the invention the device can be directly built into the foundation 24 of the structure 23.

[0043] It should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An anti-seismic device comprising: a base member comprising a socket on a top end; and a top member comprising: a ball that mates with the socket; a shock-absorbing, centering rod coupled to the ball and extending vertically upward through the top member; and a plurality of shock absorbing devices located circumferentially around the top member.
 2. The anti-seismic device of claim 1 wherein the top member is compressible through the centering rod and the plurality of shock absorbing devices.
 3. The anti-seismic device of claim 1 wherein the socket comprises a sloping surface slanting downward to a center semi-spherical portion that accepts the ball.
 4. The anti-seismic device of claim 1 wherein the device is affixed to a building or other structure.
 5. The anti-seismic device of claim 1 wherein the device is affixed to the foundation of a building or other structure. 